Thought: Mindblowing McCain Mistakes

Remind me again why this guy is supposedly the best experienced in a time of war? He seems to know nothing about foreign policy!!! Not to mention its like George W. Bush’s older and more senile self! Putin is, of course, from Russia.  No comment on that one…    

Thought: Clinton “Slams” Obama on Wright

Hillary Clinton’s a misguided woman. Its so typical of the nature of her campaign to take a question on her own mistake and turn it into an attack on someone else. When we look at the integrity of the candidates, Obama could have certainly pointed the finger at pastors related to the other candidates or he could have pointed at mistakes completely unrelated to that incident that his candidates had committed, like lying to the American people. But he wouldn’t do that, because the man has some dignity. Instead, he made a speech answering the critics as to what his relationship with Reverend Wright was. The same opportunity has been given to Hillary Clinton. She has been given the chance to show that she can simply answer for her own mistakes in misleading people on her foreign policy experiences, but she has chosen to pass the buck and point the finger. In fact, given her recent campaign demeanor, she probably kept that finger tucked inside her coat waiting to bring it out when she herself slipped up. She has been quoted as saying that the man “wouldn’t have been [her] pastor” and ridiculed Barack Obama on his comparison to his church as his family. Well, I hope the neo-conservatives chew her up for not having a close enough relationship to her spiritual advisors if she thinks they can just be dumped and substituted and I hope that someone films her religious leader’s sermons and picks out the moments that seem most controversial. What a horrid sentiment – to answer a question with blame. I certainly hope by the end of this she’ll have a decent reputation in tact because at the moment she’s revealing herself to be a bulldog and a large detriment to the overall decency of the Democratic party. 

Thought: The Most Transparent Candidate?

Today, Barack Obama released the records of his and his wife’s tax returns. Kudos to Senator Obama. Senator Clinton on the other hand has not yet made good on a promise to release the records of her taxes and, instead, had initially proposed a date at which she would do so and now claims “very shortly”, the spending will be public knowledge. What’s the hold up, Hillary? What kind of document doctors do you need to look at your tax returns before they become available to the rest of the country and why are you throwing stones in a glass house? Yes, minutes before the release of Obama’s records today it was Hillary doing the thing she’s done best this campaign – hurling criticisms and insults. Hopefully she feels like a bit of an idiot that literally minutes after she made a big fuss the information was out in the open and the spotlight was back to her and her “transparency.” And, Senator McCain, you’re awfully quiet in the corner – where are your tax returns? At least he’s not making a scene out of it and drawing attention to himself! 

Thought: Obama Unpatriotic? Or More Patriotic Than Others?

A while ago, a picture from this video went around apparently trying to show that Barack Obama wouldn’t put his hand over his heart during the “Pledge of Allegiance”. Well, sorry to break it to all of you, but it wasn’t the Pledge, it was the national anthem and if you look at the mouths of all of the candidates, the only one who sings AT ALL is Barack Obama. What would you rather have? A politician who places his hand over his heart just for the sake of it or a man who is as passionate and as patriotic as to sing along without even knowing he’s being seen do so? Watch their mouths closely and decide for yourself. 

Thought: Judas Richardson

James Carville, a senior advisor for Hillary Clinton’s campaign, has called Bill Richardson “Judas” for “betraying” the Clintons and endorsing Barack Obama. For starters, I can’t even believe the Clinton campaign would allow a statement like this to be made, because I really don’t see how it could look anything but bad for them. One of her advisors coming out and saying that because Bill Richardson served in BILL Clinton’s cabinet, he is betraying the Clintons by endorsing someone besides HILLARY Clinton for president? Well, then, Mr. Carville, there goes the “this won’t be a 2-for-1 campaign”. Why does Hillary Clinton’s campaign for presidency have anything to do with Bill Clinton’s actual presidency? Why should she be given some undying royalty by anyone who was associated with her husband? Not even Al Gore, BIll Clinton’s vice president, has come out in support of Hillary and if he supported Obama, what terms would be thrown around his name? Treason? I respect the Clinton Administration that ended in 2000 as a successful one, but that doesn’t mean I believe Hillary’s Clinton Administration of 2009-on would meet those standards nor do I believe it would be better than Obama’s Administration. That campaign is succeeding on sticking pins in voodoo dolls and hitting below the belt of Americans, not only Obama, and its time they catch a grip and realize that this sort of thing is not good for this election or the Democratic party. Hillary Clinton does not have a divine passage to the White House and her campaign should step out of this immature kindergarten playground and into a reality for the good of her own reputation among all things. 

Thought: The Terrorist Attack in Jerusalem/The Reactions

Thursday night saw a brutal terrorist attack on a yeshiva in Jerusalem. Eight people so far have been confirmed dead and the Jewish world is stunned, to say the least. While there is a lot to say on the topic as a whole, I will try to respond to a few things that are most important:1. The UN Security Council was blocked in putting out an official condemnation of the attacks because Libya decided it would not put out a condemnation without tying the attack to IDF action in Gaza. Excuse me for saying so but when, in the same breath, you call the country a “terrorist regime”, there is a hatred and a bias there and Libya should be, to put it nicely, removed from the UN Security Council. Need I say that when the IDF defended the citizens of Israel by carrying out ground operations in Gaza against terrorist cells who hide behind civilians like cowards and therefore bring harm their way, Israel was condemned in every capacity. When a Palestinian terrorist walks into a house of religious learning on the eve of a very festive religious month for these learners and shoots off automatic gunfire, no it shouldn’t be condemned. Can you -imagine- if an IDF soldier or a Jewish militant walked into a mosque or a Madrassah and started firing automatic gunfire at students learning the Koran!? 2. What kind of statement does it make that the Palestinians are celebrating this? Are you serious? This isn’t a military battle, it isn’t “invading forces”, it isn’t the “oppressive IDF”, its innocent young men. We’re not talking about collateral damage, shrapnel, or crossfire – we’re talking about a targeted attack on innocent people in a yeshiva. What kind of sick mentality justifies this and celebrates it and how can we hope for peace with that mentality in place? 3.  I want to recognize the Western world in coming to the party this time and actually condemning the attack. Four major names (all politics aside for the moment – we’ll get to that in a second) came out and categorically condemned this attack (more will soon, I hope). Some wrap-ups there (courtesy of www.haaretz.com): George W. Bush has said “America stands firm with Israel…” (more than that obviously, but I’d like to focus more on Obama and Clinton), Senator Barack Obama has said “The United States must strongly support Israel’s right and capability to defend itself. Today, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, and with the Israeli people who defeat these terrorists every single day that they go about their daily lives,” and Hillary Clinton has said “The United States and the international community must make clear that such deplorable acts of terrorism will not be tolerated and we must continue to stand with Israel in its fight against terror.”  British Foreign Secretary David Milibrand has also been vocal, perhaps more so than anyone in the Western world, about this attack.4. The reason I  pointed to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton is to ask this. Why, by March 7th, has there been no official condemnation from the Republican candidate Senator John McCain? Isn’t he supposed to be the man that’s so good for the Jews and for Israel? The one who’s going to stand by Israel? Or is he so buddy-buddy with George W. Bush that Bush’s statement reflects both of their feelings? I’d like to know why his office has remained so silent in the face of this attack and how he justifies this. 

Thought: Democrats – Where We Go From Here And Why We Need To Speed

As unfortunate it is that we’re still stumbling along in the process of nominating a Democratic candidate for the general election, it is important for each of us to do a little bit of searching within ourselves to really think about why we’re here and where we’re going in this whole ordeal. Prior to Texas and Ohio, this was supposed to be the last big hoorah for Clinton. She is a lucky woman to still be in this race, the experts say, but is she even still in it? And how important is it to have sour milk in the fridge? Hillary Clinton’s made martyrdom of her campaign. In realizing that Obama wasn’t going to be ridden easily, she opted to go on the attack herself and criticized the media for never attacking on their part. As a result, Senator Obama who is actually running a campaign and not a lesson in smear and spin tactics, has to answer the same ridiculous questions day-in and day-out about things that should -not- be asked of the frontrunner of the Democratic candidacy. How sullen are you, Senator Clinton? To hesitate on the question of Obama’s religion as if you didn’t know any better… to copy the scare tactics of the Bush administration who you so casually scold at every opportunity… to mock your opponent’s campaign slogan… to make yourself a hypocrite by claiming to run against Obama is an “honor” and then to attempt to destroy his political career at every stop. As far as a united party goes, you, ma’am, are not the candidate to lead one and you cannot be the candidate to lead a country. Any candidate who selfishly initiates and escalates  in-fighting on the waves of her support only to hide behind her fake smile and call this election an “honor” is not a candidate who should be praised or supported. In fact, by the way she’s harped on about her experience for the job of Commander in Chief, you’d think she was the candidate who wanted 100 years more in Iraq. But that’s fine if she isn’t, she’ll settle for helping him by poisoning her own party. Let me say that, if for no other reason, you should quit while you’re ahead and while you have SOME dignity to spare.  The good news is that Barack Obama has virtually the same lead as he had (and as he pointed out) as he did the morning of the 4th, the night of the 3rd, and the tense weeks leading up to yesterday’s primaries/caucus. While we would have hoped for a clear path to victory, I’m comforted by the fact that Clinton only took in a net gain of 4 delegates from the spoils and therefore is still trailing the candidate who will change this country. On that note, John McCain opened up a wonderful little gap for the Democrats yesterday in his acceptance speech and in his noble (and successful) journey for the ever-senile president’s endorsement this morning. If the Democrats are going to call themselves (one of them rightfully, one of them wrongfully) the ‘change’ candidates then they need to stop bickering (that’s you, Senator Clinton) and move on with the show. The one thing Mike Huckabee said was that the Republicans have maintained honor in their campaign… not sure I thought I’d ever say this, but he’s right. Out with the in-fighting! My advice to the Democrats is to let the campaign continue without the ‘kitchen sink strategy’ only long enough to show that they can be civil at which point Clinton rallies behind Obama who seizes the opportunity to save this country from a third term of Bushism in John McCain.  It is important that we all look at the status of the Democratic party and look at what needs to be done. The Republicans have their candidate, let’s unify behind ours. 

Thought: Obama Israel III – Wikipedia!

Alright after this you can find information on your own… just thought I’d add ONE MORE set of quotes Referring to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in January 2006, Obama denounced Hamas while praising former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. At a meeting with then Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on the eve of Hamas’ sweeping election victory,[41] Obama stated that Sharon’s role in the conflict had always been “absolutely important and constructive.”[42] At a meeting with Palestinian students two days later, Obama stated opposition to Hamas in favor of rival party Fatah, noting his desire to “consolidate behind a single government with a single authority that can then negotiate as a reliable partner with Israel.” In a comment aimed at Hamas, he said that “the US will always side with Israel if Israel is threatened with destruction.”[43] Obama was also a cosponsor of the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006, which in part calls on “members of the international community to avoid contact with and refrain from financially supporting the terrorist organization Hamas until it agrees to recognize Israel, renounce violence, disarm, and accept prior agreements, including the Roadmap.”[44] However, on March 11, 2007, Obama said that “if we could get some movement among Palestinian leadership, what I’d like to see is a loosening up of some of the restrictions on providing aid directly to the Palestinian people.”[45] He defended Israel’s response to the Zar’it-Shtula incident on August 22 in an interview with Tim Russert, saying, “I don’t think there is any nation that would not have reacted the way Israel did after two soldiers had been snatched. I support Israel’s response to take some action in protecting themselves.” A month earlier he said, “I don’t fault Israel for wanting to rid their border with Lebanon from those Katyusha missiles that can fire in and harm Israeli citizens, so I think that any cease fire would have to be premised on the removal of those missiles.”[46] Speaking to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee on 2 March 2007, Obama called Israel “our strongest ally in the region,” and stated: “We must preserve our total commitment to our unique defense relationship with Israel by fully funding military assistance and continuing work on the Arrow and related missile defense programs.” On the Palestinian Authority’s new unity government, Obama said: “We should all be concerned about the agreement negotiated among Palestinians in Mecca last month.”[47] Obama has also discussed in general terms some thoughts about Palestinians vis-a-vis the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On March 11, 2007 Obama said: “Nobody is suffering more than the Palestinian people.”[48] On June 4, 2007 Obama stated that “resolution [to the conflict] and a better life for all people” “is something that can be achieved, but it’s going to require some soul-searching on the Palestinian side. They have to recognize Israel’s right to exist; they have to renounce violence and terrorism as a tool to achieve their political ends; they have to abide by agreements. In that context, I think the Israelis will gladly say, ‘Let’s move forward negotiations that would allow them to live side by side with the Palestinians in peace and security.’”[49]

Thought: Related YouTube Videos

These are two related Youtube videos to my previous post! http://www.youtube.com/v/2vO1QjTRaEUhttp://www.youtube.com/v/jjXyqcx-mYYSorry for all the politics at the moment! 

Also a link to a third video that shows all of Clinton’s little plagiarism incidents :-p it actually has links in the sidebar to evidence.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=KgwCRfUbZU8

Thought: Senator Barack Obama/Texas Debate Response

As we move into a new (alright now, you might be a Clinton fan… or worse, a McCain supporter, but I have to assume for the good of humanity that you also believe in a discourse from Bush’s America) era in the good country of America, there are thousands of things that need mending. Quite frankly, it would be redundant to ramble on the failures of the Bush administration, but the opposite is true for the potential of the next administration. In fact, not enough can be said about Barack Obama. What struck me in the last debate between himself and Clinton was that if certain supporters of Obama’s fan base really do not know of his accomplishments in the slightest, two things must be true:

1. The man has achieved an 11-contest sweep to make realistic a Hollywood-like run for Presidency without milking every little thing he’s done AS PART OF HIS JOB AND RESPONSIBILITY as a servant of this nation and its government (the “experienced” candidates only seem more experienced because all they do is talk about what they’ve done and said in the past!)

2. It must be assumed that a large portion of the people who are NOT for Obama do not know about him either (not to mention his accomplishments) and take an almost partisan disliking to him.

It has been shown in the last few primaries as well as in general opinion that Obama’s fan base is growing… in fact, it is absorbing independents, Clintonites, and McCainheads across the country. Why? Perhaps, people are putting aside the automatic “he’s not my candidate, I won’t embrace him” attitude and learning a little bit about what has allowed this man to make politics magical again.

This man has brought back eloquent speaking and the idea of a leader who lifts up his nation. No wonder his wife talks about politics and pride the way that she does, its true! There has not been a single man or woman who has had the fire that this man has in a LONG time. Correct he is in saying that his is the type of leadership that is desperately needed in this country and in its time of healing and re-building. We don’t need some figurehead, we need a leader. We need for people to be able to rally behind someone as a symbol for their commitment to the promise of tomorrow. Yes, the candidates agree that a change is needed… but the only candidate who has put himself in the position to usher in a new era of hope, a new feeling of pride, and a new sense of unity for prosperity in this country is Barack Obama.

Let it be known that as this decade ends, it is one characterized by lost souls. It has been a decade of misadventure into iPlanet because reality has been too complex and non-giving. Let it also be known that change is already occurring in America with a young senator in a more commanding seat in this nation than the president himself. Barack Obama’s already made good on his promise for change we can believe in. After all, look at what he’s done to unify people out of office. The next decade needs to be one where our people come back to life and care once more. We need to arrive at a place where our sicknesses are not our deaths and our houses are our homes not burdens. We need to march forward, together, behind a man whose fire is bright enough to lead us out of darkness and light up our future.